Thomas Charles Richmond Baker

Name:

Attestation Paper

Country:

Australia

Rank:

Captain

Service:

Australian Flying Corps

Units:

4 (AFC)

Victories:

Born:

02 May 1897

Place of Birth:

Smithfield, New South Wales, Australia

Killed In Action:

04 November 1918

Place of Death:

Near Buisseral

Cemetery:

Escanaffles Communal Cemetery, Tournai, Hainaut, Belgium

A bank clerk from Adelaide, Thomas Charles Richmond Baker joined the army on 29 July 1915. After serving on the Western Front with the 6th Field Artillery Brigade, he transferred to the Australian Flying Corps in September 1917. In June 1918, he returned to France and was assigned to 4 Squadron, flying Sopwith Camels. Baker scored six victories before his squadron was re-equipped with the Sopwith Snipe. Promoted to flight commander, he was credited with six more victories in October 1918 but was killed in action the following month. He was 21 years old.

Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

Lieut. Thomas Charles Richmond Baker, M.M. (Australian F.C.). (FRANCE)
This officer has carried out some forty low flying raids on hostile troops, aerodromes, etc., and has taken part in numerous offensive patrols; he has, in addition, destroyed eight hostile machines. In all these operations he has shown exceptional initiative and dash, never hesitating to lead his formation against overwhelming odds, nor shrinking from incurring personal danger.
(M.M. gazetted 19th February, 1917.)

Supplement to the London Gazette, 8 February 1919 (31170/2034)

Victories
	Date	Time	Unit	Aircraft	Opponent	Location
1	31 Jul 1918	1135	4 (AFC)	Sopwith Camel (E1482)	Fokker D.VII (OOC)	SW of Estaires
2	07 Aug 1918	1405	4 (AFC)	Sopwith Camel (E1482)	Albatros D.V (DES)	S of Laventie
3	24 Aug 1918	1530	4 (AFC)	Sopwith Camel (E1482)	Balloon (DES)	NE of Estaires
4	30 Aug 1918	0615	4 (AFC)	Sopwith Camel (E1482)	DFW C (DES)	E of Laventie
5	01 Oct 1918	0810	4 (AFC)	Sopwith Camel (E1482)	Albatros C (DES)	Habourdin
6	02 Oct 1918	0750	4 (AFC)	Sopwith Camel (E1482)	Fokker D.VII (DES)	E of Fromelles
7	26 Oct 1918	1545	4 (AFC)	Sopwith Snipe (E8069)	Fokker D.VII (OOC)	E of Tournai
8	28 Oct 1918	1200	4 (AFC)	Sopwith Snipe (E8092)	Fokker D.VII (DES)	SE of Tournai
9	28 Oct 1918	1455	4 (AFC)	Sopwith Snipe (E8092)	Fokker D.VII (OOC)	Ath
10	28 Oct 1918	1500	4 (AFC)	Sopwith Snipe (E8069)	Fokker D.VII (DES)	Ath
11	29 Oct 1918	1610	4 (AFC)	Sopwith Snipe (E8092)	Fokker D.VII (DES)	Marcourt-Tournai
12	30 Oct 1918	1455	4 (AFC)	Sopwith Snipe (E8065)	Fokker D.VII (OOC)	Leuze